What to do about flowering stevia?

[katylaide]

My stevia plant appears to be developing a flower. Will the leaves go bitter if I let it flower? If yes, what should I do? I've searched very briefly and been unable to find whether it's a perennial or biennal or whatever. If I leave it to flower, will it then die, or stop flowering eventually and keep living? I bought this plant in excitement and didn't check its suitability until after it was in the ground. We get frosts which tend to be mild. The plant is under a homemade cloche. It's nearly winter and it seems fine but I wonder if it's freaking out about being put in the ground just as the weather was cooling down.

[lorax]

Pinch off the flower and let it keep growing. Stevias are like Basil - technically perennial if they never bloom.